China's Space Program Thread II

by78

General
The Yutu-2 lunar rover and Chang'e-4 lander woke up on January 15 and January 16, respectively. Yutu-2 has been working for more than 4 years and has traveled 1.46km, gathering more than 940.1GB of scientific data.

52641226633_9cbabb02fd_k.jpg
52640752991_df7ba54516_k.jpg
 

by78

General
The AsiaPacific-6E (亚太-6E) communications satellite, scheduled for launch tomorrow, features an electric propulsion system (Hall thrusters) as well as a detachable chemical propulsion module, a configuration that is a first for China. The chemical propulsion module is responsible for sending the satellite to its initial low-earth orbit, after which the module will detach from the satellite. From there, the electric propulsion system will take over to send the satellite (now much lighter without the chemical propulsion module) into its final geostationary orbit, a process that will take six to eight months.

52622482742_1a749a247f_o.jpg
52623478323_9483223a72_o.jpg
52623478313_49805a1969_o.jpg

At 2:10 on January 13, a Long March 2C rocket successfully sent the Asia-Pacific-Star 6E satellite into orbit. The APSTAR-6E satellite is mainly used to provide broadband communication services for Southeast Asia. This mission is the 460th flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles.

52625325213_a12335ab74_o.jpg

52625276650_9e0c2b18a2_k.jpg

An update. According to a Xi’an Satellite Measurement and Control Center, the chemical propulsion module has been successfully
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
, which is now being elevated to its final orbit by electric propulsion, a process that will take approximately 10 months.
 

by78

General
A progress update on the Hainan spaceport for commercial launches. The first two images below show launchpad no. 1, whose basic ground infrastructure has been finished. Next, the launch tower and other equipment will be erected and installed.

52644858857_a15ce9769f_k.jpg
52645838923_4cfabd40be_b.jpg



Construction progress on the adjacent launchpad no. 2:
52645368421_2d86c575a0_k.jpg


A satellite image of the two commercial launchpads under construction:
52644858932_29e9adeca0_k.jpg


The commercial launchpads are located roughly 2.5km southwest of the existing Wenchang launch center (LC-101, LC202):
52645368511_69d2d5c384_k.jpg
 
Last edited:

escobar

Brigadier
A progress update on the Hainan spaceport for commercial launches. The first two images below show launchpad no. 1, whose basic ground infrastructure has been finished. Next, the launch tower and other equipment will be erected and installed.

52644858857_a15ce9769f_k.jpg
52645838923_4cfabd40be_b.jpg



Construction progress on the adjacent launchpad no. 2:
52645368421_2d86c575a0_k.jpg


A satellite image of the two commercial launchpads under construction:
52644858932_29e9adeca0_k.jpg


The commercial launchpads are located roughly 2.5km southwest of the existing Wenchang launch center (LC-101, LC202):
52645368511_69d2d5c384_k.jpg
Looks like the new assembly building in Wenchang can hold two rockets at a time
FnMEd9_akAAo4_4.jpg
 
Top